- North Korea launches first ballistic missile in two months according to South Korea
- It was launched into the sea to the east
- South Korea called it a “clear act of provocation”
North Korea launches first ballistic missile in two months, says Seoul
North Korea has launched what appears to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea to its east, marking Pyongyang’s first missile test in two months, according to South Korea’s military.
The missile travelled approximately 1,100 kilometres before landing in the sea, with South Korea’s military denouncing the launch as a “clear act of provocation.”
The test coincides with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul for discussions with key South Korean leaders. Earlier on Monday, Blinken met with acting president Choi Sang-mok, calling the alliance between Washington and Seoul a “cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
South Korea’s military has heightened surveillance for potential future launches and is “closely sharing information” about today’s test with the United States and Japan.
The launch comes at a time of political turmoil in South Korea following the recent suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol and controversy surrounding his brief martial law declaration in December.
